Scottish Executive

Airports

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all passengers landing at airports in Scotland found to be in possession of offensive weapons are charged with a criminal offence and what the reasons are for its position on this matter; whether information on the actions of such passengers are given to the police or the Procurator Fiscal and who decides whether to prosecute and whether in cases where no prosecution takes place, these passengers are informed that such behaviour may lead to prosecution in future.

Cathy Jamieson: Where a passenger arriving at a Scottish airport is found by HM Customs and Excise to be in possession of an offensive weapon, that person is routinely reported to the police. It is a matter for the police to decide, in light of the circumstances and the type of weapon, whether the person should be charged. The decision whether criminal proceedings should be commenced rests with the Procurator Fiscal, whether or not any person has been arrested or charged by the police. If the Procurator Fiscal is satisfied that there is sufficient evidence in a case, he will consider whether, and if so what, action is required in the public interest. The Procurator Fiscal will also consider the use of an alternative to prosecution or if the public interest requires prosecution. Procurators Fiscal do not routinely advise accused persons that a decision has been taken not to prosecute.

Birds

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many licenses for the control of predatory birds were (a) applied for and (b) granted in (i) 2001, (ii) 2002 and (iii) 2003.

Allan Wilson: Information on licences granted for the "control of predatory birds" is not held separately. However, information on all the bird licences issued under Article 9 of the Birds Directive (79/409/EEC) is published in annual EC Derogation reports, listed under derogation and species.

  These reports are compiled centrally for the UK by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and are submitted to the European Commission. The 2001 and 2002 reports are held in the Parliament’s Reference Centre, and the 2003 report is currently being compiled. The Bib. numbers for the reports are 33419 for 2001 and 33420 for 2002.

Justice

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many failure to appear warrants were issued in each of the last five years, broken down by sheriff court district.

Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is shown in the following table and does not include fines enquiry and initiating warrants.

  Failure to Appear Warrants Issued in Each Sheriff Court

  

Court
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04


Aberdeen
2,455
2,984
2,685
3,295
3,020


Airdrie
1,149
998
1,240
1,512
1,483


Alloa
335
401
612
775
759


Arbroath
202
231
275
422
320


Ayr
1,041
1,320
1,149
1,291
1,453


Banff
90
145
110
89
99


Campbeltown
59
48
50
58
76


Cupar
149
277
296
274
244


Dingwall
88
97
106
106
130


Dornoch
16
30
31
23
28


Dumbarton
964
1,246
1,108
1,213
1,363


Dumfries
483
521
429
950
789


Dundee
1,585
2,172
2,499
2,881
3,218


Dunfermline
499
676
769
983
1,005


Dunoon
142
165
168
146
177


Duns
28
6
39
62
63


Edinburgh
5,166
5,521
6,038
5,742
5,029


Elgin
188
181
331
372
401


Falkirk
693
1,001
1,083
1,056
1,124


Forfar
130
158
192
256
269


Fort William
48
52
55
77
79


Glasgow
8,170
8,265
8,710
10,359
8,205


Greenock
951
977
945
1,174
1,239


Haddington
314
419
470
612
410


Hamilton
2,950
3,135
3,956
3,994
3,372


Inverness
565
633
748
669
675


Jedburgh
86
123
176
216
201


Kilmarnock
1,062
1,001
1,155
1,260
1,617


Kirkcaldy
1,058
1,324
1,627
2,154
2,422


Kirkcudbright
69
79
64
93
89


Kirkwall
17
26
12
10
14


Lanark
200
176
244
253
350


Lerwick
19
38
32
39
33


Linlithgow
1,020
1,669
1,931
1,658
1,230


Lochmaddy
8
10
9
5
5


Oban
48
55
61
48
90


Paisley
1,983
2,454
2,334
2,615
2,796


Peebles
33
33
48
63
32


Perth
572
610
672
725
1,042


Peterhead
230
246
357
401
229


Portree
4
5
7
16
11


Rothesay
20
37
57
50
101


Selkirk
66
152
171
233
180


Stirling
437
735
758
842
974


Stonehaven
85
123
141
143
95


Stornoway
27
45
34
39
27


Stranraer
180
218
215
197
226


Tain
146
146
173
206
96


Wick
27
33
15
17
27


Totals
35,857
40,997
44,387
49,674
46,917

Justice

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people accused had more than one failure to appear warrant issued for the same charge in each of the last five years (a) in total and (b) broken down by sheriff court district.

Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is not held centrally.

NHS Waiting Times

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the longest waiting time has been in each year since 1997 for (a) cataract removal, (b) hip replacement surgery, (c) knee replacement surgery and (d) treatment for a slipped disc in each NHS board area.

Malcolm Chisholm: The partnership agreement A Partnership for a Better Scotland  includes a commitment that, by 31 December 2003, no patient with a guarantee would wait more than nine months for in-patient/day case treatment and that this will reduce to six months by end of December 2005. Prior to 31 December 2003 the national maximum wait for in-patient/day case treatment was 12 months.

  Information on the number of patients with a guarantee who waited longer than the national maximum wait for cataract removal, hip replacement surgery and knee replacement surgery, by NHS board area of residence on 31 March in each year since 1997-98 is given in the table. Information on longest waits for slipped disc treatment is not centrally available.

  Some patients are excepted from the waiting times guarantee where, for example, they are unavailable for treatment for medical or social reasons. These patients may wait longer than the national maximum waiting times.

  NHSScotland: Number of Patients with a Guarantee who Waited Longer than the National Maximum Waiting Time for Cataract Removal1, Hip Replacement Surgery2 and Knee Replacement Surgery, by NHS Board Area of Residence, On 31 March 1998 to 2004 Inclusive.

  

On 31 March 1998
No patient with a guarantee waited longer than the 12-month national maximum wait.


On 31 March 1999
One patient with a guarantee in NHS Argyll and Clyde waited more than 12 months for hip replacement surgery.


On 31 March 2000
One patient with a guarantee in NHS Fife and two with a guarantee in NHS Forth Valley waited more than 12 months for hip replacement surgery. Two patients with a guarantee in NHS Forth Valley waited more than 12 months for knee replacement surgery.


On 31 March 2001
No patient with a guarantee waited longer than the 12-month national maximum wait.


On 31 March 2002
No patient with a guarantee waited longer than the 12-month national maximum wait.


On 31 March 2003
No patient with a guarantee waited longer than the 12-month national maximum wait.


On 31 March 2004
One patient with a guarantee in NHS Western Isles waited longer than nine-month national maximum for cataract removal.



  Source: ISD Scotland, SMR 3.

  Notes:

  1. Cataract removal defined as OPCS4 C71-C75 as main procedure with ICD10, H25, H26, H280, H281 or H282 in any diagnostic position.

  2. Total hip replacement defined as OPCS4 W37-W39 as main procedure.

  3. Total knee replacement defined as OPCS4 W40-W42 as main procedure.

NHS Waiting Times

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the median waiting time has been in each year since 1997 for (a) cataract removal, (b) hip replacement surgery, (c) knee replacement surgery and (d) treatment for a slipped disc in each NHS board area.

Malcolm Chisholm: The median waiting times for cataract removal, hip replacement surgery, knee replacement surgery and slipped disc treatment in each NHS board area of residence during each year since 1997-98, are given in the tables.

  On 1 April 2003, the deferred waiting list was abolished. This list consisted mainly of patients who, due to another medical condition, were medically unfit to undergo treatment; and patients who did not attend for their booked treatment. Prior to 1 April 2003, these patients were excluded from the calculation of median waiting times. Since that date, these patients’ overall waits are included in the median. This is likely to have contributed to the increase in median waits recorded in 2003-04.

  The Scottish Executive does not set targets for median waits. The Executive is committed to reducing waiting times across Scotland, with priority being given to treating those patients who have waited longest. The NHS has achieved the target of ensuring that no-one with a guarantee waits longer than nine months for in-patient and day-case treatment, and this target reduces to six months at the end of 2005.

  NHSScotland: Median Waiting Times for Cataract Removal1, Total Hip Replacement2, Total Knee Replacement3 and Slipped Disc Treatment4, by NHS Board Area of Residence. Years Ended 31 March 1998 to 2004P Inclusive.

  

Area of Residence
Year Ended 31 March 1998 (Excludes Patients From The Deferred Waiting List)


Cataract Removal1
Total Hip Replacement2
Total Knee Replacement3
"Slipped Disc" Treatment4


Median Wait (days)


Argyll and Clyde
144
117
181
45*


Ayrshire and Arran
90
101
102
41


Borders
66
80
84*
24*


Dumfries and Galloway
171
111
179
39*


Fife
104
110
130
26


Forth Valley
98
187
254
39


Grampian
110
65
87
29


Greater Glasgow
67
163
206
46


Highland
138
151
163
31


Lanarkshire
185
83
104
46


Lothian
138
119
133
27


Orkney Islands
121*
48*
x
53*


Shetland Islands
92*
x
109*
x


Tayside
70
108
135
23


Western Isles
260
40*
40*
x


NHSScotland
97
106
132
33



  

Area of Residence
Year Ended 31 March 1999 (Excludes Patients From The Deferred Waiting List)


Cataract Removal1
Total Hip Replacement2
Total Knee Replacement3
"Slipped Disc" Treatment4


Median Wait (days)


Argyll and Clyde
115
125
152
26*


Ayrshire and Arran
89
103
111
43


Borders
72
112
95*
23*


Dumfries and Galloway
134
139
148
29*


Fife
121
133
154
20


Forth Valley
82
187
223
26


Grampian
100
81
102
32


Greater Glasgow
91
196
193
63


Highland
116
195
207
26


Lanarkshire
174
74
95
33


Lothian
102
126
184
21


Orkney Islands
73
49*
x
46*


Shetland Islands
98
132*
x
24*


Tayside
63
105
128
21


Western Isles
214
46*
19*
x


NHSScotland
97
120
142
28



  

Area of Residence
Year Ended 31 March 2000 (Excludes Patients From The Deferred Waiting List)


Cataract Removal1
Total Hip Replacement2
Total Knee Replacement3
"Slipped Disc" Treatment4


Median Wait (days)


Argyll and Clyde
89
143
175
36


Ayrshire and Arran
78
99
101
42


Borders
38
147
159*
23*


Dumfries and Galloway
107
161
148
35*


Fife
118
152
159
26


Forth Valley
82
188
221
23*


Grampian
112
85
98
27


Greater Glasgow
106
189
222
84


Highland
85
183
202
27


Lanarkshire
222
89
89
38


Lothian
99
150
162
20


Orkney Islands
180*
49*
x
x


Shetland Islands
83
104*
x
x


Tayside
64
80
113
25


Western Isles
213
31*
x
42*


NHSScotland
92
122
138
32



  

Area of Residence
Year Ended 31 March 2001 (Excludes Patients From The Deferred Waiting List)


Cataract Removal1
Total Hip Replacement2
Total Knee Replacement3
"Slipped Disc" Treatment4


Median Wait (days)


Argyll and Clyde
112
164
179
74


Ayrshire and Arran
169
132
145
39


Borders
54
164
171
x


Dumfries and Galloway
92
219
220
56*


Fife
128
187
175
26


Forth Valley
104
232
270
20*


Grampian
179
99
115
34


Greater Glasgow
110
225
227
119


Highland
78
124
139
33


Lanarkshire
262
112
130
65


Lothian
103
211
212
23


Orkney Islands
207
48*
x
x


Shetland Islands
130
104*
x
x


Tayside
76
119
143
32


Western Isles
168
38*
x
x


NHSScotland
105
151
168
34



  

Area of Residence
Year Ended 31 March 2002 (Excludes Patients From The Deferred Waiting List)


Cataract Removal1
Total Hip Replacement2
Total Knee Replacement3
"Slipped Disc" Treatment4


Median Wait (days)


Argyll and Clyde
123
204
241
50


Ayrshire and Arran
186
159
181
56*


Borders
59
166
208
35*


Dumfries and Galloway
125
273
335
x


Fife
121
171
172
28


Forth Valley
106
209
262
51


Grampian
131
94
107
28


Greater Glasgow
93
200
238
69


Highland
76
128
135
41


Lanarkshire
133
141
147
65


Lothian
66
210
231
34


Orkney Islands
117
47*
x
x


Shetland Islands
99
168*
x
x


Tayside
88
124
129
27


Western Isles
105
67*
x
x


NHSScotland
104
156
179
38



  

Area of Residence
Year Ended 31 March 2003 (Excludes Patients From The Deferred Waiting List)


Cataract Removal1
Total Hip Replacement2
Total Knee Replacement3
"Slipped Disc" Treatment4


Median Wait (days)


Argyll and Clyde
144
229
269
61


Ayrshire and Arran
193
152
164
42*


Borders
63
152
201
40*


Dumfries and Galloway
152
245
272
40*


Fife
96
168
184
29


Forth Valley
151
233
283
41*


Grampian
73
108
120
34


Greater Glasgow
54
257
272
75


Highland
78
155
188
34


Lanarkshire
90
152
193
66


Lothian
46
270
292
34


Orkney Islands
105
61*
72*
x


Shetland Islands
167*
259*
x
x


Tayside
83
143
145
28


Western Isles
104
96*
x
x


NHSScotland
93
183
213
39



  

Area of Residence
Year Ended 31 March 2004 (New Single Waiting List)


Cataract Removal1
Total Hip Replacement2
Total Knee Replacement3
"Slipped Disc" Treatment4


Median Wait (days)


Argyll and Clyde
168
189
195
73


Ayrshire and Arran
214
168
166
23*


Borders
73
172
184
63*


Dumfries and Galloway
188
184
173
54*


Fife
98
193
210
36


Forth Valley
144
194
213
46


Grampian
122
166
174
38


Greater Glasgow
73
245
239
110


Highland
194
190
201
36*


Lanarkshire
160
166
187
57*


Lothian
56
217
255
45


Orkney Islands
130
82*
104*
x


Shetland Islands
174
217*
226*
x


Tayside
107
168
191
25


Western Isles
160
106
x
x


NHSScotland
127
184
201
45



  Source: ISDScotland, SMR01.

  X not shown due to small numbers, less than 15 discharges.

  *Figures to be viewed with caution as derived from small numbers (more than 14 but less than 50 discharges).

  PProvisional.

  Notes:

  1. Cataract removal defined as OPCS4 C71-C75 as main procedure with ICD10, H25, H26, H280, H281 or H282 in any diagnostic position.

  2. Total hip replacement defined as OPCS4 W37-W39 as main procedure.

  3. Total knee replacement defined as OPCS4 W40-W42 as main procedure.

  4. Slipped Disc treatment (cervica and linvertebral disc disorders) defined as ICD10, M500-M502 or M5100-M512 as main diagnosis.

Sex Offenders

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-7347 by Cathy Jamieson on 14 April 2004, how many people were on the sex offenders register in each of the last five years.

Cathy Jamieson: The number of sex offenders recorded by the Scottish Criminal Record Office as being registered with Scottish Police Forces is available for the last four years, and is shown in the following table.

  

As at:
Number of Registrations


March 2001
1,480


March 2002 
1,724


March 2003 
1,926


March 2004 
2,244

Sex Offenders

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average length was of sentences for crimes of indecency in each of the last five years, broken down by main offence and sheriff court district.

Cathy Jamieson: The available information is given in the table.

  Persons given a Custodial Sentence in Scottish Courts for a Crime of Indecency1, 1998-2002

  

Main offence
Average Sentence Length (Days)
Number of Persons


1998
1999
2000
2001
20024
1998
1999
2000
2001
20024


Sexual Assault2


High Court
2,137
2,054
2,113
2,201
1,839
58
49
45
59
42


Sheriff Courts3:
 


Aberdeen 
-
731
-
-
365
-
1
-
-
1


Airdrie 
1,096
547
-
912
-
1
1
-
1
-


Ayr 
319
-
821
-
-
4
-
3
-
-


Banff 
-
91
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-


Dingwall 
-
-
-
90
91
-
-
-
1
1


Dumfries 
-
-
-
731
-
-
-
-
1
-


Dundee 
274
91
91
91
547
1
1
1
1
1


Dunfermline 
-
274
548
-
-
-
1
2
-
-


Dunoon 
-
-
30
-
-
-
-
1
-
-


Edinburgh 
494
328
91
568
-
4
5
1
3
-


Elgin 
-
-
182
-
-
-
-
1
-
-


Falkirk 
-
-
-
-
731
-
-
-
-
1


Forfar 
730
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-


Glasgow 
60
407
438
547
912
1
5
5
3
1


Greenock 
122
182
-
547
274
1
1
-
1
1


Haddington 
-
91
91
-
-
-
1
1
-
-


Hamilton 
-
-
-
1096
274
-
-
-
1
1


Inverness 
60
914
-
-
-
1
2
-
-
-


Jedburgh 
-
91
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-


Kilmarnock 
91
274
274
-
365
1
2
3
-
1


Kirkcaldy 
579
319
-
-
-
2
2
-
-
-


Lerwick 
-
91
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-


Linlithgow 
-
-
456
-
-
-
-
1
-
-


Oban 
-
-
-
122
-
-
-
-
1
-


Paisley 
274
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-


Perth 
-
220
-
-
-
-
4
-
-
-


Stirling 
-
-
-
456
-
-
-
-
1
-


Stranraer 
-
-
152
-
-
-
-
1
-
-


Tain 
-
-
91
-
-
-
-
1
-
-


All courts
1,724
1,416
1,558
1,880
1,616
76
78
66
73
50



  

Main offence
Average Sentence Length (Days)
Number of Persons


1998
1999
2000
2001
20024
1998
1999
2000
2001
20024


Lewd and Libidinous Behaviour


High Court
1,990
1,907
1,717
1,675
1,496
34
27
25
33
34


Sheriff Courts3:
 


Aberdeen 
731
547
274
513
244
1
1
1
7
2


Airdrie 
795
547
175
419
639
7
3
4
3
3


Alloa 
91
912
638
-
1,461
2
1
1
-
1


Arbroath 
91
426
324
42
304
1
3
3
1
3


Ayr 
297
194
183
547
441
4
4
2
1
6


Banff 
-
-
-
91
-
-
-
-
1
-


Campbeltown 
91
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-


Cupar 
-
914
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-


Dingwall 
-
91
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-


Dornoch 
-
-
-
91
91
-
-
-
1
1


Dumbarton 
913
912
-
91
91
4
1
-
2
1


Dumfries 
426
-
487
487
-
3
-
3
3
-


Dundee 
395
396
122
1,004
-
6
6
4
2
-


Dunfermline 
426
319
-
90
548
3
2
-
1
3


Dunoon 
-
-
-
731
-
-
-
-
1
-


Duns 
91
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-


Edinburgh 
416
456
642
434
327
16
17
12
11
8


Elgin 
263
-
299
76
-
3
-
3
2
-


Falkirk 
136
81
563
-
502
4
3
6
-
4


Forfar 
91
-
-
914
-
1
-
-
2
-


Glasgow 
495
455
385
572
386
19
22
12
10
13


Greenock 
-
912
60
609
-
-
1
1
2
-


Haddington 
-
91
122
-
91
-
1
1
-
1


Hamilton 
-
479
456
382
517
-
4
5
7
3


Inverness 
152
493
547
319
324
3
5
1
2
3


Jedburgh 
-
319
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-


Kilmarnock 
416
294
237
457
-
6
3
5
2
-


Kirkcaldy 
237
495
638
-
639
5
7
1
-
4


Kirkcudbright
91
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-


Lanark 
60
181
912
81
-
1
1
1
3
-


Lerwick 
-
-
547
-
60
-
-
1
-
1


Linlithgow 
304
370
140
396
335
5
6
5
3
4


Lochmaddy 
-
91
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-


Oban 
91
-
-
1,096
472
1
-
-
1
4


Paisley 
502
479
-
638
433
2
4
-
3
4


Perth 
1,096
426
-
319
-
2
3
-
2
-


Peterhead 
296
60
-
-
91
4
1
-
-
1


Selkirk 
-
548
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-


Stirling 
547
731
-
-
486
2
1
-
-
1


Stornoway 
1,096
-
-
91
-
1
-
-
1
-


Stranraer 
822
-
730
365
-
2
-
2
1
-


Tain 
-
547
-
-
1,096
-
1
-
-
1


All courts
793
723
730
822
770
146
137
100
108
106



  

Main offence
Average Sentence Length (Days)
Number of Persons


1998
1999
2000
2001
20024
1998
1999
2000
2001
20024


Other Crimes of Indecency


High Court
1,891
1,666
1,890
2,150
1,976
22
20
20
22
11


Sheriff Courts3:
 


Aberdeen 
-
91
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-


Alloa 
365
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-


Arbroath 
-
45
-
91
-
-
2
-
1
-


Ayr 
-
-
365
365
-
-
-
1
1
-


Dingwall 
-
-
-
365
-
-
-
-
1
-


Dumfries 
182
731
-
-
-
1
1
-
-
-


Dundee 
-
-
-
122
-
-
-
-
1
-


Edinburgh 
228
-
274
-
1,096
2
-
2
-
1


Elgin 
-
60
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-


Glasgow 
-
182
-
639
502
-
1
-
2
2


Haddington 
91
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-


Hamilton 
-
-
365
-
365
-
-
1
-
1


Inverness 
122
-
-
61
-
1
-
-
1
-


Jedburgh 
365
456
-
-
-
1
1
-
-
-


Kilmarnock 
-
-
-
365
-
-
-
-
1
-


Kirkcaldy 
547
639
60
-
-
1
2
1
-
-


Kirkcudbright
-
-
-
731
365
-
-
-
1
2


Lanark 
-
-
152
-
-
-
-
1
-
-


Oban 
-
182
-
-
60
-
3
-
-
1


Paisley 
-
-
-
-
61
-
-
-
-
1


Perth 
91
-
182
-
882
1
-
1
-
1


Selkirk 
-
-
365
-
-
-
-
1
-
-


Stirling 
-
-
365
-
-
-
-
1
-
-


Tain 
-
-
1,094
-
-
-
-
2
-
-


All courts
1,414
1,149
1,367
1,635
1,297
31
32
31
31
20



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. Includes rape, attempted rape and indecent assault.

  3. Includes a small number of persons sentenced in the district court.

  4. Figures for 2002 may be underestimates due to late recording of disposals on SCRO.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Parliament Shop

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what percentage of products in the shop at Holyrood will be manufactured in Scotland.

Andrew Welsh (on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body): The products for sale in the shop at Holyrood are being procured at present so it is not possible to give an accurate percentage yet. All products are being procured in line with the Retail Policy adopted by the SPCB in April 2004. Consideration is being given to including unique items that are manufactured in Scotland and to showcasing items from different regions of Scotland, for example.

Parliamentary Tours

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what arrangements will be made to ensure that schoolchildren visiting Holyrood have an opportunity to meet and put questions to their MSPs and, in particular, whether they will be permitted to use committee rooms for such meetings when those rooms are not in use for parliamentary business.

Andrew Welsh (on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body): The programme for school visits hosted under the Educational Visits Programme, run by Visitor Services staff, includes an invitation to the local constituency and regional MSPs to meet the group and answer questions. If MSPs wish to host additional visits from schools, they are able to book rooms for these visits. This includes booking committee rooms, when not in use for parliamentary business, for this type of meeting.

Smoking

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether cleaning staff at Holyrood will be given a choice in respect of whether they clean the proposed smoking room, given the presence of environmental tobacco smoke.

John Scott (on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body): The SPCB’s cleaning contractor has asked all cleaning staff whether or not they would be willing to clean the smoking room. A number of volunteers, who happen to be smokers themselves, have volunteered. Staff who are unwilling to clean the room will not be asked to do so.

  The majority of cleaning at Holyrood is carried out between 10 pm and 6 am. This means that the room will not be in use when the major daily clean is performed. Waste removal will be the only task undertaken during office hours. This will limit cleaning staff’s exposure to the room’s environment. The room is also well ventilated, with 15 air changes per hour.